Abdelbaset al-Megrahi

Libyan intelligence officer convicted of the Lockerbie bombing

Abdelbaset al-Megrahi (1 April 1952 – 20 May 2012) was a Libyan intelligence officer who was convicted of the Lockerbie bombing. He was born in Tripoli, Libya, and was a former head of security for Libyan Arab Airlines and director of the Libyan Intelligence Service.

Early life and education

Al-Megrahi was born in Tripoli, Libya, in 1952. He pursued higher education in the field of engineering and later studied in the United States and the United Kingdom. His career in intelligence began with his work for Libyan Arab Airlines, where he eventually became the head of security.

Lockerbie bombing

The Lockerbie bombing occurred on 21 December 1988, when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over the town of Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 people on board and 11 people on the ground. The investigation led to the indictment of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and another Libyan, Lamin Khalifah Fhimah, in 1991.

Trial and conviction

Al-Megrahi was tried under Scottish law in a special court at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands. On 31 January 2001, he was found guilty of 270 counts of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 27 years. His co-accused, Fhimah, was acquitted.

Imprisonment and release

Al-Megrahi was imprisoned at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow, Scotland, before being transferred to HM Prison Greenock. In 2009, he was released on compassionate grounds due to terminal prostate cancer. His release was controversial and sparked international debate.

Death

Abdelbaset al-Megrahi died on 20 May 2012 in Tripoli, Libya, at the age of 60. His death came nearly three years after his release from prison.

Legacy

The case of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi remains a subject of controversy and debate. Questions about his guilt and the fairness of his trial continue to be discussed in legal and political circles.

Related pages

• Lockerbie bombing
• Pan Am Flight 103
• Libyan Intelligence Service
• Scottish law

Gallery

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  HMP Barlinnie, where al-Megrahi was initially imprisoned